Mafer Evans assists Riley pressing a blue corn tortilla.

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Mafer Evans was born and raised in Mexico City. Mafer Evans loves tortillas. Mafer Evans loves talking about tortillas. Mafer and her husband Kevin own La Familia Tortilla shop in Dixon, close to Safeway.

Mafer insists that corn and tortillas do not receive the kudos they should. “Tortillas are a big part of Mexican culture, and Hispanic culture. Now it’s part of your culture. I know how much you all love Mexican food,” said Mafer in her introduction to the appreciation of her audience. 

Common while growing up in Mexico, families send their children to the Tortilleria to purchase kilos of Tortillas for nightly dinners. Now, Dixon residents and visitors have that same option close to their homes. According to Mafer, La Familia Tortilla Shop uses the same corn used in Conquistador times. They use imported heirloom corn (from Mexico) that is organic and not genetically modified. They grind the corn on their premises.

Mexican culture teaches us “Corn is us. Corn is everything,” said Mafer. It was discovered over 9,000 years ago and initial farmers deserve major recognition for discovering wild Teosinte, an inedible precursor to what we recognize today as domesticated corn or maize. There are more than 200 varieties of corn worldwide. Sixty varieties are grown in Mexico. Interesting to note, per Mafer, is that 1/3 of all of Mexico’s cropland is corn.

Corn Tortilla Aficionado Mafer Evans of La Familia Tortilla Shop in Dixon shown with several varieties of corn.

Although corn tortilla making is pretty simple, the finished product varies greatly depending on the ingredients used. Nixtamalization is the traditional Mexican process where corn is treated with lime, and dried and ground to produce the flour used to make a tortilla. Water is added to this flour to make the tortilla. “To make the perfect tortilla, it must be turned three times,” Mafer said.

After hearing all of this history about corn and tortillas, it was time to make your very own corn tortilla with Mafer’s assistance. Mafer then showed the audience how to press a tortilla, then cook it on a griddle.

La Familia Tortilla Shop is located at 1285 Stratford Avenue, Suite C in Dixon. Their phone number is 707-401-6100. They specialize in yellow corn, chipotle, spinach and jalapeno tortillas and homemade tamales. For more information, please visit www.lafamiliatortillashop.com.